Walnut and Spalted Hackberry Dresser for my Boys

This is a dresser that I made for my boys. It is also the first dresser that I have built. The biggest challenge was figuring out the structure to mount all the drawer slides on. My next dresser should be easier now that I know what to do and what not to do.

This is made from black walnut and spalted hackberry. The hackberry I got from LJ gfadvm and some of the walnut was sawn on his mill. I wanted to use all low odor, quick drying products so I could get it in their room quickly. I used Zinsser seal coat(dewaxed shellac) tinted with transtint amber to add some color to the hackberry and make the walnut glow a bit more. Then there are three coats of Minwax polycrylic. Everything was sprayed with my Earlex spray station. The end panels are book matched and each row of drawer fronts is made from the same plank so the grain lines up. This was my first book matched thing ever.

The drawer pulls are Duplo Legos. I made up some pieces of walnut that fit inside the ends of the blocks and glued them in. They are then screwed thru the drawer fronts. When the boys outgrow legos(maybe never) I will make some pulls out of walnut. I was pleasantly surprised and they look better than I thought they would.

Beautiful work Bill, the wood choice is right on, and having the Andy connection with the sawmill will always make it memorable. You realize you have 2 boys!? You’ll need to make another one now. Maybe wait till your youngest can visit Andy’s sawmill and then each boy will make the connection…....well done.

Great job on the dresser build….It’s beautiful…I’ve never used hackberry, but I’d sure like to have some…That is gorgeous wood, and it goes and flows so well with the Walnut….I know your 2 boys will get some good use of the dresser….How did you mount the top to the carcuss? L brackets, figure 8’s, etc.? Good job, bud….I think the Lego handles look good….But, like you said…as they get older you can always change them out if you need to….Stellar job….Ain’t woodworking fun when you stand back and look at what you’ve created? Who said money don’t grow on trees…!!!!

-- " The secret to staying young looking.....hang around old people.." R.D.

Bill, The dresser is outstanding! Always fun to see where the wood I saw winds up. That hackberry came from my daughter’s ranch. I need to take you and the boys down there and show them the stump. You are a good dad, woodworker, and friend.

Thanks Bruce, Chris and Andy. I do love that hackberry Andy. I’m happy I chose it over yellow pine. I had to use the biggest clear pieces of hackberry, but I still have quite a bit to use for other smaller projects.